October 1, 2024
Lebanon: Escalation in Violence and Humanitarian Response
Syrian children are experiencing a mental health crisis due to persistent exposure to traumatic events such as war and displacement.
One in every six children around the world lives in conflict and war zones. More than 100 million people around the world, half of them children, face the risk of forcible displacement due to the wars raging in Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Palestine and other countries.
Events like violence, losing loved ones, being separated from family and facing uncertainty about the future have made children more vulnerable to mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
In one of the camps in the Kelly area in Northwest Syria, seven-year-old Aisha lives with her family of seven. This displaced family from southern rural Idlib endures harsh economic conditions, with Aisha’s father working in construction for a limited income that barely meets their basic needs. Despite these challenges, Aisha was a diligent second-grade student, excelling in reading and writing. However, behind this academic success, she concealed significant psychological suffering.
Four years ago, when Aisha was just three years old, their village was bombed, leading to the destruction of their home and leaving the family homeless. This traumatic event had a profound psychological impact on Aisha, who developed an intense fear of loud noises and darkness. Over time, these fears manifested into an issue of bedwetting. As the economic situation worsened, the family could not afford the necessary psychological care for Aisha, leading to a deterioration in her condition.
As time passed, Aisha’s psychological distress grew. She began exhibiting other symptoms such as sleep disturbances, social withdrawal, and aggressive behavior. These challenges not only affected Aisha but also took a toll on the entire family, especially her mother, who started feeling helpless and frustrated by her inability to provide the right support for her daughter.
One day, during a visit to Doctors of the World (DoTW) Türkiye’s Kelly clinic for treatment, Aisha’s mother heard about the psychosocial support services available at the center. This information brought a glimmer of hope to the mother, who decided to take Aisha to the psychosocial support unit, hoping to find a solution to her daughter’s problems. She was referred to the psychological specialist by the psychosocial support worker.
Upon their arrival at the psychologist’s office, Aisha and her mother were warmly welcomed with professional empathy. The psychologist explained the principles of confidentiality and privacy in their dealings and obtained the mother’s consent to provide psychological support for Aisha. The psychologist then conducted a comprehensive assessment of Aisha’s condition, revealing that her psychological issues stemmed from the fear induced by the bombing. These fears were identified as the primary cause of her bedwetting and other behavioral disturbances.
The psychologist developed a comprehensive treatment plan to help Aisha overcome her psychological challenges. This began with building a strong therapeutic relationship with both Aisha and her mother, which helped break down the psychological barriers between the child and the psychologist. DoTW Türkiye’s psychologist introduced a “Star Chart” technique, where Aisha would earn a star for successfully completing simple household tasks, motivating her to improve her behavior.
The psychologist also focused on positive reinforcement, offering Aisha continuous encouragement and praise for her progress, which boosted her self-confidence. Gradually, bladder control exercises were introduced, which helped reduce the occurrences of bedwetting. To combat social isolation, the psychologist encouraged Aisha to interact with her peers in the camp, helping to build a social support network around her.
Additionally, Aisha’s sleep schedule was regulated to ensure she received sufficient and regular sleep, which contributed to improving her psychological and physical state. The psychologist also applied emotional release techniques, such as drawing and playing, to help Aisha express her repressed feelings creatively, further enhancing her psychological comfort and self-confidence.
The psychologist’s efforts were not limited to Aisha alone; she also provided guidance to the mother on how to offer emotional and psychological support at home. The mother was advised to create a safe and stable environment and work on reducing stress within the family.
Over time, with consistent adherence to the treatment plan, Aisha’s condition gradually improved. The bedwetting issue significantly decreased, and Aisha began to regain her self-confidence. She returned to school with greater enthusiasm and confidence, and she started participating in daily activities more naturally. This improvement extended beyond Aisha, positively impacting the entire family, restoring their sense of comfort and reassurance.
For many Syrian children, the war has robbed them of their childhood. The crisis in the country continues to leave Syrian children with psychological scars. War and displacement have magnified the mental health crisis faced by Syrian children, impacting their cognitive, psychosocial and emotional development. One third of children in Syria shows signs of psychological distress including anxiety, sadness, fatigue, or frequent trouble sleeping, as 97% of the population in northwest Syria live in extreme poverty. Aisha, who witnessed the horror of the war, was just one of those children. Thanks to DoTW Türkiye’s Kelly clinic supported by Tzu Chi Foundation, Aisha is now much healthier, overcoming psychological trauma, fortified with hope and confidence in the future